The Battle Is Not Yours

Wars appear to be an unending factor in the world we live in. Even in biblical times, battles were fierce and frequent. The Bible tells us that it's only when Jesus returns that wars will cease. The same is true in our own lives. No sooner have we come out of one battle than another one faces us.


In 1 Samuel 17, we read of a young lad named David who slew the giant Goliath. At that time, the Israelites were about to do battle with the Philistines. Among them was a nine-foot giant named Goliath who terrified the Israelites with his great size and his taunts. David inquired what would be the reward for the man who killed Goliath. King Saul heard of David's inquiry and sent for him. The king tried to dissuade David from going up against Goliath, who was not only a giant but had been fighting since his youth. But David replied, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (v 37).

We must notice a few things about David's approach to this battle:

1. Saul dressed David in full battle gear, complete with sword and helmet, but David took them off because he was not used to them. Beware of trying to fight your battle with someone else's armor. Know your strengths and your limitations.

2. Goliath ridiculed David, saying, "Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?" (43)  David replied, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty" (v 45).  That was the key to David's victory over Goliath. He didn't go in his strength alone, but in God's strength. The Bible tells us, "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8: 37).

So, whether your Goliath is addiction, relationship issues, illness, debt, whatever it is, you can learn from David's strategy. Don't depend on someone else's strength, and go in the name of the Lord.  May God bless you.